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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>I S A I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. LVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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After the exceedingly great and precious promises of gospel grace,
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typified by temporal deliverances, which we had in the foregoing
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chapter, we have here,
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I. A solemn charge given to us all to make conscience of our duty, as
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we hope to have the benefit of those promises,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. Great encouragement given to strangers that were willing to come
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under the bonds of the covenant, assuring them of the blessings of the
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covenant,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:3-8">ver. 3-8</A>.
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III. A high charge drawn up against the watchmen of Israel, that were
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careless and unfaithful in the discharge of their duty
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>),
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which seems to be the beginning of a new sermon, by way of reproof and
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threatening, which is continued in the following chapters. And the
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word of God was intended for conviction, as well as for comfort and
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instruction in righteousness.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Isa56_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Evangelical Promises; Exhortations to Duty.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my
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salvation <I>is</I> near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
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2 Blessed <I>is</I> the man <I>that</I> doeth this, and the son of man
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<I>that</I> layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting
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it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The scope of these verses is to show that when God is coming towards us
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in a way of mercy we must go forth to meet him in a way of duty.</P>
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<P>
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I. God here tells us what are his intentions of mercy to us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>My salvation is near to come</I>--the great salvation wrought out by
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Jesus Christ (for that was the salvation of which the <I>prophets
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enquired and searched diligently,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:10">1 Pet. i. 10</A>),
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typified by the salvation of the Jews from Sennacherib or out of
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Babylon. Observe,
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1. The gospel salvation is the salvation of the Lord. It was contrived
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and brought about by him; he glories in it as his.
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2. In that salvation God's righteousness is revealed, which is so much
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the beauty of the gospel that St. Paul makes this the ground of his
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glorying in it.
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:17">Rom. i. 17</A>),
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<I>because therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
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faith.</I> The law revealed that righteousness of God by which all
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sinners stand condemned, but the gospel reveals that by which all
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believers stand acquitted.
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3. The Old-Testament saints saw this salvation coming, and drawing near
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to them, long before it came; and they had notice by the prophets of
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its approach. As Daniel understood by Jeremiah's books the approach of
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the redemption out of Babylon, at the end of seventy years, so others
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understood by Daniel's books the approach of our redemption by Christ
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at the end of seventy weeks of years.</P>
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<P>
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II. He tells us what are his expectations of duty from us, in
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consideration thereof. Say not, "We see the salvation near, and
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therefore we may live as we list, for there is no danger now of missing
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it or coming short of it;" that is turning the grace of God into
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wantonness. But, on the contrary, when the salvation is near double
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your guard against sin. Note, The fuller assurances God gives us of the
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performance of his promises the stronger obligations he lays us under
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to obedience. The salvation here spoken of has now come; yet, there
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being still a further salvation in view, the apostle presses duty upon
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us Christians with the same argument.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:11">Rom. iii. 11</A>,
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<I>Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.</I> That which is
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here required to qualify and prepare us for the approaching salvation
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is,</P>
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<P>
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1. That we be honest and just in all our dealings: <I>Keep you judgment
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and do justice.</I> Walk by rule, and make conscience of what you say
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and do, that you do no wrong to any. Render to all their dues exactly,
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and, in exacting what is due to you, keep up a court of equity in your
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own bosom, to moderate the rigours of the law. Be ruled by that golden
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rule, "Do as you would be done by." Magistrates must administer justice
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wisely and faithfully. This is required to evidence the sincerity of
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our faith and repentance, and to open the way of mercy. <I>Repent for
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the kingdom of heaven is at hand.</I> God is true to us; let us be so
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to one another.</P>
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<P>
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2. That we religiously observe the sabbath day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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We are not just if we rob God of his time. Sabbath-sanctification is
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here put for all the duties of the first table, the fruits of our love
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to God, as justice and judgment are put for all those of the second
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table, the fruits of our love to our neighbour. Observe,
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(1.) The duty required, which is to <I>keep the sabbath,</I> to keep it
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as a talent we are to trade with, as a treasure we are entrusted with.
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"Keep it holy; keep it safe; keep it with care and caution; keep it
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from polluting it. Allow neither yourselves nor others either to
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violate the holy rest or omit the holy work of that day." If this be
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intended primarily for the Jews in Babylon, it was fit that they should
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be particularly put in mind of this, because when, by reason of their
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distance from the temple, they could not observe the other institutions
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of their law, yet they might distinguish themselves from the heathen by
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putting a difference between God's day and other days. But it being
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required more generally of man, and <I>the son of man,</I> it intimates
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that sabbath-sanctification should be a duty in gospel times, when the
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bounds of the church should be enlarged and other rites and ceremonies
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abolished. Observe, Those that would keep the sabbath from polluting it
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must put on resolution, must not only do this, but lay hold on it, for
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sabbath time is precious, but is very apt to slip away if we take not
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great care; and therefore we must lay hold on it and keep our hold,
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must do it and persevere in it.
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(2.) The encouragement we have to do this duty: <I>Blessed is he that
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doeth it.</I> The way to have the blessing of God upon our employments
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all the week is to make conscience, and make a business, of
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sabbath-sanctification; and in doing so we shall be the better
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qualified to do judgment and justice. The more godliness the more
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honesty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+2:2">1 Tim. ii. 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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3. That we have nothing to do with sin: <I>Blessed is the man</I> that
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<I>keeps his hand from doing evil,</I> any wrong to his neighbour, in
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body, goods, or good name--or, more generally, any thing that is
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displeasing to God and hurtful to his own soul. Note, The best
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evidence of our having kept the sabbath well will be a care to keep a
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good conscience all the week. By this it will appear that we have been
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in the mount with God if our faces shine in a holy conversation before
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men.</P>
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<A NAME="Isa56_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Isa56_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Encouragement to the Sincere; Encouragement to the Gentiles.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself
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to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, speak, saying, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath utterly separated me
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from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I <I>am</I> a dry
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tree.
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4 For thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto the eunuchs that keep my
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sabbaths, and choose <I>the things</I> that please me, and take hold
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of my covenant;
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5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls
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a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will
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give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
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6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to serve him, and to love the name of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to be his
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servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it,
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and taketh hold of my covenant;
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7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them
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joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their
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sacrifices <I>shall be</I> accepted upon mine altar; for mine house
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shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
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8 The Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT> which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith,
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Yet will I gather <I>others</I> to him, beside those that are gathered
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unto him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The prophet is here, in God's name, encouraging those that were hearty
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in joining themselves to God and yet laboured under great
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discouragements.
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1. Some were discouraged because they were not of the seed of Abraham.
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They had <I>joined themselves to the Lord,</I> and bound their souls
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with a bond to be his for ever (this is the root and life of religion,
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to break off from the world and the flesh, and devote ourselves
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entirely to the service and honour of God); but they questioned whether
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God would accept them, because they were of <I>the sons of the
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stranger,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They were Gentiles, strangers to the commonwealth of Israel and aliens
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from the covenants of promise, and therefore feared they had no part
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nor lot in the matter. They said, "<I>The Lord has utterly separated me
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from his people,</I> and will not own me as one of them, nor admit me
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to their privileges." It was often said that there should be <I>one law
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for the stranger and for him that was born in the land</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:49">Exod. xii. 49</A>),
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and yet they came to this melancholy conclusion. Note, Unbelief often
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suggests things to the discouragement of good people which are directly
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contrary to what God himself has said, things which he has expressly
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guarded against. Let not the <I>sons of the stranger</I> therefore say
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thus, for they have no reason to say it. Note, Ministers must have
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answers ready for the disquieting fears and jealousies of weak
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Christians, which, how unreasonable soever, they must take notice of.
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2. Others were discouraged because they were not fathers in Israel. The
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eunuch said, <I>Behold, I am a dry tree.</I> So he looked upon himself,
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and it was his grief; so others looked upon him, and it was his
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reproach. He was thought to be of no use because he had no children,
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nor was ever likely to have any. This was then the more grievous
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because eunuchs were not admitted to be priests
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+21:20">Lev. xxi. 20</A>),
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nor to <I>enter into the congregation</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+23:1">Deut. xxiii. 1</A>),
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and because the promise of a numerous posterity was the particular
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blessing of Israel and the more valuable because from among them the
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Messiah was to come. Yet God would not have the eunuchs to make the
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worst of their case, nor to think that they should be excluded from the
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gospel church, and from being spiritual priests, because they were shut
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out from the congregation of Israel and the Levitical priesthood; no,
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as the taking down of the partition wall, contained in ordinances,
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admitted the Gentiles, so it let in likewise those that had been kept
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out by ceremonial pollutions. Yet, by the reply here given to this
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suggestion, it should seem the chief thing which the eunuch laments in
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his case is his being written childless.</P>
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<P>
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Now suitable encouragements are given to each of these.</P>
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<P>
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I. To those who have no children of their own, who, though they had the
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honour to be the children of the church and the covenant themselves,
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yet had none to whom they might transmit that honour, none to receive
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the sign of circumcision and the privileges secured by that sign. Now
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observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. What a good character they have, though they lie under this ignominy
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and affliction; and those only are entitled to the following comforts
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who in some measure answer to these characters.
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(1.) They <I>keep God's sabbaths</I> as he has appointed them to be
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kept. In the primitive times, if a Christian were asked, "Hast thou
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kept holy the Lord's day?" He would readily answer, "I am a Christian,
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and dare not do otherwise."
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(2.) In their whole conversation they <I>choose those things that
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please God.</I> They do that which is good; they do it with a sincere
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design to please God in it; they do it of choice, and with delight. If
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sometimes, through infirmity, they come short in doing that which
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pleases God, yet they choose it, they endeavour after it, and aim at
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it. Note, Whatever is God's pleasure should without dispute be our
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choice.
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(3.) They <I>take hold of his covenant,</I> and that is a thing that
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pleases God as much as any thing. The covenant of grace is proposed and
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proffered to us in the gospel; to take hold of it is to consent to it,
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to accept the offer and come up to the terms, deliberately and
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sincerely to take God to be to us a God and to give up ourselves to him
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to be to him a people. Taking hold of the covenant denotes an entire
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and resolute consent to it, taking hold as those that are afraid of
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coming short, catching at it as a good bargain, and as those that are
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resolved never to let it go, for it is our life: and we take hold of it
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as a criminal took hold of the horns of the altar to which he fled for
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refuge.</P>
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<P>
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2. What a great deal of comfort they may have if they answer to this
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character, though they are not built up into families
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Unto them will I give a better place and name.</I> It is supposed
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that there is a place and a name, which we have from sons and
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daughters, that is valuable and desirable. It is a pleasing notion we
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have that we live in our children when we are dead. But there is a
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better place, and a better name, which those have that are in covenant
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with God, and it is sufficient to counterbalance the want of the
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former. A place and a name denote rest and reputation; a place to live
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comfortably in themselves, and a name to live creditably with among
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their neighbours; they shall be happy, and may be easy both at home and
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abroad. Though they have not children to be the music of their house,
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or arrows in their quiver, to keep them in countenance when they speak
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with their enemies in the gate, yet they shall have a place and a name
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more than equivalent. For,
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(1.) God will give it to them, will give it to them by promise; he will
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himself be both their habitation and their glory, their place and their
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name.
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(2.) He will give it to them in his house, and within his walls; there
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they shall have a place, shall be planted so as to take root
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+92:13">Ps. xcii. 13</A>),
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shall <I>dwell all the days of their life,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+27:4">Ps. xxvii. 4</A>.
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They shall be at home in communion with God, as Anna, that <I>departed
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not from the temple night nor day.</I> There they shall have a name. A
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name for the good things with God and good people is a name <I>better
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than that of sons and daughters.</I> Our relation to God, our interest
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in Christ, our title to the blessings of the covenant, and our hopes of
|
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eternal life, are things that give us in God's house a blessed place
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and a blessed name.
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(3.) It shall be <I>an everlasting name, that shall never</I> be
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extinct, shall never <I>be cut off;</I> like the place and name of
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angels, who <I>therefore</I> marry not, because they die not. Spiritual
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|
blessings are unspeakably better than those of sons and daughters; for
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children are a certain care and may prove the greatest grief and shame
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of a man's life, but the blessings we partake of in God's house are a
|
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sure and constant joy and honour, comforts which cannot be
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embittered.</P>
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<P>
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II. To those that are themselves the children of strangers.</P>
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<P>
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1. It is here promised that they shall now be welcome to the church,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
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When God's Israel come out of Babylon, let them bring as many of their
|
|
neighbours along with them as they can persuade to come, and God will
|
|
find room enough for them all in his house. And here, (as before) we
|
|
may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Upon what terms they shall be welcome. Let them know that God's
|
|
Israel, when they come out of Babylon, will not be plagued, as they
|
|
were when they came out of Egypt, with a mixed multitude, that went
|
|
with them, but were not cordially for them; no, the sons of the
|
|
strangers shall have a place and a name in God's house provided,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That they forsake other gods, all rivals and pretenders
|
|
whatsoever, and <I>join themselves to the Lord,</I> so as to become
|
|
<I>one spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:17">1 Cor. vi. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That they join themselves to him as subjects to their prince and
|
|
soldiers to their general, by an oath of fidelity and obedience, <I>to
|
|
serve him,</I> not occasionally, as one would serve a turn, but to be
|
|
constantly his servants, entirely subject to his command, and devoted
|
|
to his interest.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That they join themselves to him as friends to his honour and the
|
|
interests of his kingdom in the world, <I>to love the name of the
|
|
Lord,</I> to be well pleased with all the discoveries he has made of
|
|
himself and all the memorials they make of him. Observe, Serving him
|
|
and loving him go together; for those that love him truly will serve
|
|
him faithfully, and that obedience is most acceptable to him, as well
|
|
as most pleasant to us, which flows from a principle of love, for then
|
|
<I>his commandments are not grievous,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+5:3">1 John v. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That they keep the sabbath from polluting it; for the stranger
|
|
that is within thy gates is particularly required to do that.
|
|
|
|
[5.] That they take hold of the covenant, that is, that they come under
|
|
the bonds of it, and put in for the benefits of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) To what privileges they shall be welcome,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Three things are here promised them, in their coming to God:--
|
|
|
|
[1.] Assistance: "<I>I will bring them to my holy mountain,</I> not
|
|
only bid them welcome when they come, but incline them to come, will
|
|
show them the way, and lead them in it." David himself prays that God
|
|
by his light and truth would bring them to his <I>holy hill,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+43:3">Ps. xliii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the sons of the stranger shall be under the same guidance. The
|
|
church is God's holy hill, on which he hath set his King, and, in
|
|
bringing them to Zion Hill, he brings them to be subjects to Zion's
|
|
King, as well as worshippers in Zion's holy temple.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Acceptance: "<I>Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall
|
|
be accepted on my altar,</I> and be never the less acceptable for being
|
|
theirs, though they are sons of the stranger." The prayers and praises
|
|
(those spiritual sacrifices) of devout Gentiles shall be as pleasing to
|
|
God as those of the pious Jews, and no difference shall be made between
|
|
them; for, though they are Gentiles by birth, yet through grace they
|
|
shall be looked upon as the believing seed of faithful Abraham and the
|
|
praying seed of wrestling Jacob, for in Christ Jesus there is neither
|
|
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Comfort. They shall not only be accepted, but they themselves
|
|
shall have the pleasure of it: <I>I will make them joyful in my house
|
|
of prayer.</I> They shall have grace, not only to serve God, but to
|
|
serve him cheerfully and with gladness, and that shall make the service
|
|
the more acceptable to him; for, when we sing in the ways of the Lord,
|
|
then great is the glory of our God. They shall go away and <I>eat their
|
|
bread with joy,</I> because <I>God now accepts their works,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:7">Eccl. ix. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nay, though they came mourning to the house of prayer, they shall go
|
|
away rejoicing, for they shall there find such ease, by casting their
|
|
cares and burdens upon God, and referring themselves to him, that, like
|
|
Hannah, they shall go away and their countenance shall be no more sad.
|
|
Many a sorrowful spirit has been made joyful in the house of
|
|
prayer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. It is here promised that multitudes of the Gentiles shall come to
|
|
the church, not only that the few who come dropping in shall be made
|
|
welcome, but that great numbers shall come in, and the door be thrown
|
|
open to them: <I>My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
|
|
people.</I> The temple was then God's house, and to that Christ applies
|
|
these words
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:13">Matt. xxi. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
but with an eye to it as a type of the gospel church,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:8,9">Heb. ix. 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
For Christ calls it <I>his house,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+3:6">Heb. iii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now concerning this house it is promised,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That it shall not be a house of sacrifice, but a house of prayer.
|
|
The religious meetings of God's people shall be meetings for prayer, in
|
|
which they shall join together, as a token of their united faith and
|
|
mutual love.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That it shall be a house of prayer, not for the people of the Jews
|
|
only, but for all people. This was fulfilled when Peter was made, not
|
|
only to perceive it himself, but to tell it to the world, that <I>in
|
|
every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:35">Acts x. 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
It had been declared again and again that <I>the stranger that comes
|
|
nigh shall be put to death,</I> but Gentiles shall now be looked upon
|
|
no longer as strangers and foreigners,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:19">Eph. ii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it appears by Solomon's prayer, at the dedication of the temple,
|
|
both that it was primarily intended for a house of prayer and that
|
|
strangers should be welcome to it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+8:30,41,43">1 Kings viii. 30, 41, 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
And it is intimated here
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
|
|
|
|
that when the Gentiles are called in they shall be incorporated into
|
|
one body with the Jews, that (as Christ says,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:16">John x. 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
there may be <I>one fold and one Shepherd;</I> for,
|
|
|
|
[1.] God will <I>gather the outcasts of Israel.</I> Many of the Jews
|
|
that had by their unbelief cast themselves out shall by faith be
|
|
brought in again, <I>a remnant according to the election of grace,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:5">Rom. xi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ came to the <I>lost sheep of the house of Israel</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:24">Matt. xv. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
to <I>gather their outcasts</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+147:2">Ps. cxlvii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
to <I>restore their preserved</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:6"><I>ch.</I> xlix. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>to be their glory,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:32">Luke ii. 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He will gather others also to him, besides his own outcasts that
|
|
are gathered to him. Or, though some of the Gentiles have come over now
|
|
and then into the church, that shall not serve (as some may think) to
|
|
answer the extent of these promises; no, there are still more and more
|
|
to be brought in: "<I>I will gather others to him besides these;</I>
|
|
these are but the first-fruits in comparison with the harvest that
|
|
shall be gathered for Christ in the nations of the earth, when the
|
|
fulness of the Gentiles shall come in." Note, The church is a growing
|
|
body: when some are gathered to it we may still hope there shall be
|
|
more, till the mystical body be completed. <I>Other sheep I
|
|
have.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Isa56_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa56_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa56_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Isa56_12"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>A Charge against the Prophets.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, <I>yea,</I> all ye
|
|
beasts in the forest.
|
|
10 His watchmen <I>are</I> blind: they are all ignorant, they <I>are</I>
|
|
all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to
|
|
slumber.
|
|
11 Yea, <I>they are</I> greedy dogs <I>which</I> can never have enough,
|
|
and they <I>are</I> shepherds <I>that</I> cannot understand: they all look
|
|
to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
|
|
12 Come ye, <I>say they,</I> I will fetch wine, and we will fill
|
|
ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day,
|
|
<I>and</I> much more abundant.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
From words of comfort the prophet here, by a very sudden change of his
|
|
style, passes to words of reproof and conviction, and goes on in that
|
|
strain, for the most part, in the three following chapters; and
|
|
therefore some here begin a new sermon. He had assured the people that
|
|
in due time God would deliver them out of captivity, which was designed
|
|
for the comfort of those that should live when God would do this. Now
|
|
here he shows what their sins and provocations were, for which God
|
|
would send them into captivity, and this was designed for the
|
|
conviction of those that lived in his own time, nearly a hundred years
|
|
before the captivity, who were now filling up the measure of the
|
|
nation's sin, and to justify God in what he brought upon them. God will
|
|
lay them waste by the fierceness of their enemies, for the falseness of
|
|
their friends.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Desolating judgments are here summoned,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
The sheep of God's pasture are now to be made the sheep of his
|
|
slaughter, to fall as victims to his justice, and therefore <I>the
|
|
beasts of the field and the forest</I> are called to come and devour.
|
|
They are beasts of prey, and do it from their own ravenous disposition;
|
|
but God permits them to do it, nay, he employs them as his servants in
|
|
doing it, the ministers of his justice, though they mean not so,
|
|
neither does their heart think so. If this refers primarily to the
|
|
descent made upon them by the Babylonians, and their devouring them,
|
|
yet it may look further, to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish
|
|
nation by the Romans, after these outcasts of them (mentioned
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>)
|
|
|
|
were gathered in to the Christian church. The Roman armies came upon
|
|
them as beasts of the forest to devour them, and they quite <I>took
|
|
away their place and nation.</I> Note, When God has bloody work to do
|
|
he has beasts of prey within call, to be employed in doing it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The reason of these judgments is here given. The shepherds, who
|
|
should have been the watchmen of the flock, to discover the approaches
|
|
of the beasts of prey, to keep them off, and protect the sheep, were
|
|
treacherous and careless, minded not their business, nor made any
|
|
conscience of the trust reposed in them, and so the sheep became an
|
|
easy prey to the wild beasts. Now this may refer to the false prophets
|
|
that lived in Isaiah's, Jeremiah's, and Ezekiel's time (who flattered
|
|
the people in their wicked ways, and told them they should have peace
|
|
though they went on) and to the priests that bore rule by their means.
|
|
Or it may refer to the wicked princes, the sons of Josiah, that <I>did
|
|
evil in the sight of the Lord,</I> and other wicked magistrates under
|
|
them, who betrayed their trust, were vicious and profane, and, instead
|
|
of making up the breach at which the judgments of God were breaking in
|
|
upon them, made it wider, and augmented the fierce anger of the Lord
|
|
instead of doing any thing to turn it away. They should have kept
|
|
judgment and justice
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
but they abandoned both,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:1">Jer. v. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Or it may refer to those who were the nation's watchmen in our
|
|
Saviour's time, the chief priests and the scribes, who should have
|
|
discerned the signs of the times and have given notice to the people of
|
|
the approach of the Messiah, but who, instead of that, opposed him, and
|
|
did all they could to keep people from coming to the knowledge of him
|
|
and to prejudice them against him. It is a very sad character that is
|
|
here given of these watchmen. <I>Woe unto thee, O land!</I> when thy
|
|
guides are such.
|
|
|
|
1. They had no sense or knowledge of their business. They were
|
|
wretchedly ignorant of their work, and very unfit to teach, being so
|
|
ill-taught themselves: <I>His watchmen are blind,</I> and therefore
|
|
utterly unfit to be watchmen. If the seers see not, who shall see for
|
|
us? <I>If the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that
|
|
darkness!</I> Christ describes the Pharisees to be <I>blind leaders of
|
|
the blind,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:14">Matt. xv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The beasts of the field come to devour, and the watchmen are blind, and
|
|
are not aware of them. <I>They are all ignorant</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>shepherds that cannot understand</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
that know not what is to be done about the sheep, nor can <I>feed them
|
|
with understanding,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+3:15">Jer. iii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. What little knowledge they had they made no use of it; no one was
|
|
the better for it. As they were blind watchmen, that could not discern
|
|
the danger, so they were <I>dumb dogs,</I> that would not give warning
|
|
of it. And why are the dogs set to guard the sheep if they cannot bark
|
|
to waken the shepherd and frighten the wolf? Such were these; those
|
|
that had the charge of souls never reproved men for their faults, nor
|
|
told them what would be in the end thereof, never gave them notice of
|
|
the judgments of God that were breaking in upon them. They barked at
|
|
God's prophets, and bit them too, and worried the sheep, but made no
|
|
opposition to the wolf or thief.
|
|
|
|
3. They were very lazy, and would take no pains. They loved their
|
|
ease, and hated business, were always <I>sleeping, lying down</I> and
|
|
<I>loving to slumber.</I> They were not overcome and overpowered by
|
|
sleep, as the disciples, through grief and fatigue, but they lay down
|
|
on purpose to invite sleep, and said, <I>Soul, take thy ease. Yet a
|
|
little sleep.</I> It is bad with a people when their shepherds slumber
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Na+3:18">Nah. iii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it is well for God's people that their shepherd, the keeper of
|
|
Israel, neither slumbers nor sleeps.
|
|
|
|
4. They were very covetous and eager after the world--<I>greedy dogs
|
|
that can never have enough.</I> If they had ever so much, they would
|
|
think it too little. They so love silver as never to be satisfied with
|
|
silver,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:10">Eccl. v. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
All their enquiry is what they shall get, not what they shall do. Let
|
|
them have the wages, and they care not whether the work be done or no;
|
|
they feed not the flock, but fleece it. They are every one looking to
|
|
his <I>own way,</I> minding his own private interests, and have no
|
|
regard at all to the public welfare. It was St. Paul's complaint of
|
|
the watchmen in his time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:21">Phil. ii. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>All seek their own, not the things that are Jesus Christ's.</I>
|
|
Every one is for propagating his own opinion, advancing his own party,
|
|
raising his own family, and having every thing to his own mind, while
|
|
the common concerns of the public are wretchedly neglected and
|
|
postponed. They look <I>every one to his gain from his quarter,</I>
|
|
from his end or part of the work. They are for fain from every quarter
|
|
(<I>Rem rem quocunque modo rem--Money, money, by fair means or by foul
|
|
we must have money</I>), but especially from their own quarter, where
|
|
they will be sure to take care that they lose nothing, nor miss any
|
|
thing that is to be got. If any one put not into their mouths they not
|
|
only will do him no service, but they <I>prepare war against him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+3:5">Mic. iii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. They were perfect epicures, given to their pleasures, never so much
|
|
in their element as in their drunken revels
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Come</I> (say they), <I>I will fetch wine</I> (they have that at
|
|
command; their cellars are better furnished than their closets) <I>and
|
|
we will fill ourselves,</I> or be drunk, <I>with strong drink.</I> They
|
|
were often drunk, not overseen (as we say) or overtaken in drink, but
|
|
designedly. The watchmen did thus invite and encourage one another to
|
|
drink to excess, or they courted the people to sit and drink with them,
|
|
and so confirmed those in their wicked ways, and hardened their hearts,
|
|
whom they should have reproved. How could they think it any harm to be
|
|
drunk when the watchmen themselves joined with them and led them to it!
|
|
|
|
6. They were very secure and confident of the continuance of their
|
|
prosperity and ease; they said, "<I>To-morrow shall be as this day and
|
|
much more abundant;</I> we shall have as much to spend upon our lusts
|
|
to-morrow as we have to-day." They had no thought at all of their own
|
|
frailty and mortality, though they were shortening their days and
|
|
hastening their deaths by their excesses. They had no dread of the
|
|
judgments of God, though they were daily provoking him and making
|
|
themselves liable to his wrath and curse. They never considered the
|
|
uncertainty of all the delights and enjoyments of sense, how they
|
|
perish in the using and pass away with the lusts of them. They resolved
|
|
to continue in this wicked course, whatever their consciences said to
|
|
the contrary, to be as merry to-morrow as they are to-day. <I>But boast
|
|
not thyself of to-morrow</I> when perhaps <I>this night thy soul shall
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